Letter 353: I have read your speech, and have immensely admired it. O muses; O learning; O Athens; what do you not give to those who love you! What fruits do not they gather who spend even a short time with you!
Basil of Caesarea→Libanius|c. 377 AD|Basil of Caesarea|Human translated
humorwomen
I've read your speech and admired it enormously. O Muses! O learning! O Athens — what gifts you give to those who love you! What harvests are reaped by those who spend even a little time in your company! Oh, to drink from that abundantly flowing fountain of yours! What remarkable men it produces in all who taste it! In your speech I seemed to see the man himself [likely a comic character], together with his chattering little wife. Libanius alone has written a living story — one that breathes — and in doing so has given his words the gift of life itself.
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA
Basil to Libanius.
I have read your speech, and have immensely admired it. O muses; O learning; O Athens; what do you not give to those who love you! What fruits do not they gather who spend even a short time with you! Oh for your copiously flowing fountain! What men all who drink of it are shown to be! I seemed to see the man himself in your speech, in the company of his chattering little woman. A living story has been written on the ground by Libanius, who alone has bestowed the gift of life upon his words.
I've read your speech and admired it enormously. O Muses! O learning! O Athens — what gifts you give to those who love you! What harvests are reaped by those who spend even a little time in your company! Oh, to drink from that abundantly flowing fountain of yours! What remarkable men it produces in all who taste it! In your speech I seemed to see the man himself [likely a comic character], together with his chattering little wife. Libanius alone has written a living story — one that breathes — and in doing so has given his words the gift of life itself.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)